A San Jose man uncovered about $500,000 worth of booty in this unlikely hiding place: a Contra Costa County storage unit he bought at an auction last month.The container required three men to carry it out.

The buyer purchased the unit for about $1,100. He also bought another unit owned by the same person for about $600.

The storage container held about 16 gold doubloons and a number of silver Spanish dollars, as well as several gold and silver bars. All the items were authenticated by appraisers.